Knife



Aug. 25, 1942. w. J. EVINGER KNIFE Filed Feb.l 18, 1942 Syvum/vm Mer-elf. [bf/7967;

@fwd/L Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES- PTENT OFFICE KNIFE Walter J. Evinger, Denver, Colo.

Application February 18, 1942, Serial No. 431,440

Claims.

This invention relates to knives especially adapted for peeling vegetables, fruits and the like, and has for the primary object the provision -of an eicient and inexpensive device of the above stated character wherein a combined gauge and guard element is slidably mounted on the knife to permit positioning thereof parallel with and spaced from the cutting edge of the knife blade to protect a persons thumb from the cutting edge when paring and to control the thickness of the pared material and which may be easily and quickly brought into an inoperative position or substantially sheathed in the handle of the knife so that the latter may be used for other purposes.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement Of parts as Will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following descripton and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a knife constructed in accordance with my invention, and

showing the combined gauge and guard element in an -operative position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, partly in section, showing the combined guard and gauge element in an inoperative position.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation illustrating the association of the combined guard and gauge element with respect to the cutting edge of the blade for paring purposes.

Figure 4 is ya transverse sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the blade of the knife and 6 an attaching shank forming an integral Ipart of the blade and on which are secured handle-forming members 1. Rivets or like fasteners 8 are employed for securing the handle-forming members 'I on the opposite faces of the shank. The blade 5 is provided with the usual cutting edge 9.

One of the handle-forming members I is recessed, as shown at I0, to accommodate therein a sleeve II. The sleeve is formed by rolling a portion of the shank upon itself with its free edge cut away to form a slot I2.

A combined guard and gauge element I3 in the form of a rod is slidably mounted in the sleeve and has formed thereon a projection I4 55 extending into the slot for limiting the sliding movement of said element I3 in opposite directions.

An ear I 5 is formed on the blade 5 adjacent the shank and is rolled to form -a bearing aligning with the sleeve to coact therewith in slidably supporting the element I3.

The outer or free end of the element I3 is angularly disposed to form a finger piece I6 extending in a direction away from the blade so that it may be readily gripped by a person to impart sliding movement tothe element I3 in either direction.

In operation, to `adjust or employ the knife for peeling purposes, the element I3 is slid to the left in Figure 1 paralleling the cutting edge and spaced a limited distance laterally thereof. The element when in this position will act as a guard to prevent a persons thumb from contacting the cutting edge during a paring operation, also will govern the thickness of the material pared from fruit or vegetables. A movement of the element I3 in a reverse direction, substantially sheathes the same within the sleeve leaving the cutting edge of the blade fully exposed in order that the knife may be used for other purposes.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ist 1. In a knife, a blade having a cutting edge, a handle on said blade, a sheath carried by the handle and paralleling the latter, and a combined paring gaugeY and thumb guard slidable in said sheath and movable to assume a position paralleling the cutting edge and laterally thereof.

2. In a knife, a blade having a cutting edge, a shank integral with the blade and having one edge rolled to form a sleeve provided with a slot, hand grip elements secured to the shank and one of said hand grip elements recessed to receive the sleeve, and a rigid element slidable in the sleeve to provide a .combined paring gauge and thumb guard.

3. In a knife, a blade having a cutting edge, a shank integral with the blade and having one edge rolled to form a sleeve provided with a slot, hand grip elements secured to the shank and one of said hand grip elements recessed to receive the sleeve, a rigid element slidable in the sleeve to -provide a vcombined paring gauge and thumb guard, and a projection on sai-d rigid element and extending into the slot for limiting the sliding movement thereof in opposite directions.

4. In a knife, a blade having a cutting edge, a shank integral with the blade and having one edge rolled to form a `sheath extending parallel to the shank, a rigid element slidable in said sheath, a finger piece formed on said element for imparting sliding movement thereto, and means m for limiting the sliding movement of said element.

5. In a knife, a blade having a cutting edge, a handle shank integral with said blade and having one edge rolled to form a sheath, a rigid element slidable in said sheath and having one end angularly disposed to provide a finger piece, an ear formed on the blade and rolled to provide a bearing slidably receiving said element and cooperating with the sheath in the slidable support of said element, means for limiting the sliding movement of said element in either direc- A tion.

WALTER J. EVIN GER. 

